I read the first book for book club, and that set me off through the whole trilogy. The books are long — longer than they really need to be — but overall the characters are enjoyable and the story arc is satisfying with echoes of Ender’s Game, Hunger Games and more but plenty of unique traits as well. Red Rising starts off slow and a bit confusing, but ended up being my favorite of the three. Golden Son suffers from the problems of many middle books and much of it feels plodding. I started to get really tired of Darrow and almost gave up about 2/3 of the way through, but ultimately stuck with it and was rewarded because Morning Star was a satisfying finale, almost as good as the first book.

Another win for postal book club, because I might never have found this one my own. I really loved this book for so many reasons, but also find it a little difficult to put into words. There are so many novels out there that use WWII as a backdrop, but I never tire of them. I suppose it’s because war provides an automatic dramatic setting in which all other events seem to take on added meaning. This was the first WWII-themed novel I can remember set in Russia, and that gave it a decidedly different feeling. I really enjoyed the characters of both Lev and Kolya, the stark differences in their personalities, and how their interactions grew and changed as the story went on. There are so many themes and messages that hit home for me — how people maintained some sense of normalcy in the face of horrors, what people will do to survive, Kolya’s unflagging optimism and odd cheeriness despite being constantly in danger, Lev’s pragmatic nature and realistic fears, how good and bad are often intertwined. The story was about trying to find a dozen eggs in the middle of the siege of Leningrad, yes. But in the end, it’s not the eggs that matter.

I was first introduced to Kalanithi when his essay “How Long Have I Got Left?” was published in the New York Times. He passed away from lung cancer about 14 months after that essay (and only a couple years after his diagnosis). This book came out posthumously. I’d had it on my to-read list for quite a while but kept putting it off because I knew it would be one of those books that’s valuable and thought-provoking but also a total gut punch. And it was. The epilogue, written by Paul’s wife Lucy after his death, is particularly moving — both heartbreaking and powerful.

I’d been waiting for this one via library ebook since it came out…and I have mixed feelings. I knew it was a play and thus would read very differently than the previous Potter books. The script format threw me off at first, but I got the hang of it quickly enough. Being back in the wizarding world was lots of fun, but for me the story was just “meh.” It didn’t feel well thought out like the rest of the Potter saga, and that could be because it takes place 20+ years later or it could simply be the script format, which obviously doesn’t lend itself to nearly the detail and introspection of a novel.

I would LOVE to see this on stage though, if only to enjoy what must be some wonderful effects and sets!

My goal this year is to read a little every day and/or read 30 books. After not reading anything for the last month because of everything else going on in life, I’ve fallen off my pace and am currently at 15 books read in 2016. I just started a new one a few days ago though, and it feels good to be reading again! Standard disclaimer: there may be spoilers, in case any of these are still on your “to read” list. Also: previous reads.

I work at Johnson Space Center in Houston and this book is really about the Jet Propulsion Lab in California, but I was still intrigued. I was already familiar with the idea of “computers” — women who worked for the agency early on who literally did all the math to support the various projects and programs — and it was very interesting to learn more about a group of them. I also really enjoyed learning about the history of JPL. Unfortunately I think this book could have used a stronger editor. It felt very disjointed, jumping from anecdote to anecdote instead of stringing together a more cohesive narrative. I had trouble keeping the women straight, and the timeline jumped around a lot as well — 5 years forward, then 8 years back, all within the same few pages.

Still, it was a worthwhile read for the history and for appreciating how tough it was for women to break into the engineering/space exploration field early on. (And geez, how tough it must have been given the complete lack of maternity leave policies and readily available childcare!!) These women paved the way for women like me to work as engineers, and that’s pretty cool.

I’ve read a lot of novels set during World War II, but that didn’t stop me from picking this one up and I’m glad I did. This was an engaging story about two sisters — one older and married with a child and one just entering adulthood when the war begins — and how they each respond to circumstances beyond their control. I identified strongly with Vianne, the older one, who was torn between trying to keep her head down to avoid trouble and protect her daughter while also trying to maintain her humanity. Be warned that you will probably spend a good portion of the last several chapters in tears.

This was a book club selection and it was fascinating (and horrifying) to learn more about events that I am mostly oblivious to from my comfortable life in the US. Apparently there is some controversy surrounding this book and whether the events occurred exactly as described and on the timeline presented. Either way, it seems safe to say that whether Beah was forced into being a boy solider for 2 months or 2 years, the experience would be terrifying. From my very outside perspective, the book would have benefited from better context — some additional background on conflict, or how things devolved to the point where Beah’s story begins. But overall I felt this was a worthwhile read.

The premise of this book is how our culture handles death, and how we could improve. Sure, it’s morbid, depressing, and often uncomfortable — but it’s also something that each and every person should probably spend a little time thinking about long before you find yourself facing the end of your own life. I really appreciated Gawande’s thoughtful approach as both a doctor and a son dealing with his father’s tumor diagnosis and subsequent decline. I’ve been fortunate thus far in that I haven’t had any close friends or family members with terminal diagnoses (other than old age) so I don’t have a lot of experience with the subjects. That said, this book presents a very convincing argument for new types of nursing homes and assisted living facilities, and makes a strong case for hospice care over the more traditional hospital stay. The idea of providing needed help while also letting people stay in control of their own lives for as long as possible is something I’m 100% onboard with and hope to have in my own life when my time comes.

I’d seen this book mentioned in so many different places and was anxiously awaiting it via postal book club. It finally arrived and I sped through it in about 8 days! It wasn’t amazing, it wasn’t earth-shattering, and I found the non-stop back-and-forth between the two points of view fairly excessive at times. But despite those negatives, I really enjoyed this one. Something about Rowell’s writing felt very real to me — I totally bought in to the feelings of teenagers in love, the interactions they have with the (very different) parents in their lives, their home lives, the bus ride to and from school, etc. A satisfying story from start to finish.

My goal this year is to read a little every day and/or read 30 books. We’re a third of the way through the year and I’ve read 10 so I’m totally on track! Standard disclaimer: there may be spoilers, in case any of these are still on your “to read” list. Also: previous reads.

My opinions about this book changed as I read it, rising and falling with each chapter. I found Victoria so frustrating, and yet I felt such empathy for her at the same time. The hopeful ending left me feeling like there would still be many challenges ahead, but that she was on a path to leading a peaceful and hopefully happy life. The language of flowers that provided the backdrop for the story was also wonderful. I ended up really loving this book and it was my favorite read of the last several months…

…until I read Dead Wake, which I devoured. I don’t know how you manage to turn a historical event into a suspenseful page-turner, but Larson did.

I was a little hesitant to start it because really? The Lusitania? It seemed pretty random and far off my normal reading. But I loved Isaac’s Storm (which I picked up years ago because I live near Galveston) so I decided to try this one too…and it did not disappoint! I knew only the very highlights of the story — a German U-boat sank the Lusitania, a passenger liner full of civilians, which was considered unthinkable — and it was great to learn more about a key point in the history of World War I. Larson did an excellent job of switching between the viewpoints of various passengers and crew on the Lusitania, Captain Schweiger on the U-boat, and U.S. President Woodrow Wilson. Although the Wilson romance felt extraneous, I did appreciate the bits of insight into what the U.S. mood was during this time in history as well. As an engineer, I also enjoyed all of the well-researched details Larson included about things like the living conditions on a U-boat, how much time they spent on the surface vs. submerged, how the Lusitania’s design and construction played a part in how quickly it sank, how post-Titanic changes to lifeboats and life jackets were still flawed, and more.

I read this 20+ years ago when I was in 9th grade and it’s been on my “to read” list for quite a while so I was very excited to receive it for postal book club. I remember liking it at a high school freshman — one of the very few books I was required to read for school that I actually enjoyed — and was curious to see how I’d feel about it as an adult. I loved it even more this time, and have such a deeper appreciation for it with more life experience (and 3.5 years of parenthood) under my belt.

I liked the premise of this book, enjoyed how three different stories were woven together, and it was definitely a page-turner. The central conflict left me feeling SO uncomfortable, but I think perhaps that was point — to consider how you might react in a similarly unexpected and unthinkable situation where there seems to be no right answer.

I had no idea what to expect from this book (a book club selection) but happily found myself totally fascinated by the story and the culture it presents. The story is loosely based on real life events but is told from the point of view of a fictional woman who comes from poverty to become a member of the queen’s all-female royal guard. Despite the copious amounts of tragedy involved (as one would expect for a novel constructed around the British colonization of India and the subsequent rebellion of the Indian people) this was a very engaging story. I couldn’t put it down.

My goal this year is to read a little every day and/or read 30 books. It’s early March and I’ve already read 5 so I’m on schedule! Woo! Standard disclaimer: there may be spoilers, in case any of these are still on your “to read” list. Also: previous reads.

This book was not at all what I expected going in…and that turned out to be perfectly fine. I was amazed by how well I felt like I knew Eva’s character despite learning about her primarily through the lens of others, and at how quickly I became invested in each individual’s story. Stradal did a wonderful job of weaving each character’s loose ends together as the story progressed; the glimpses of how each one evolved were satisfying, even though many of the details are left to the imagination. My only complaint is that I felt the ending was rather abrupt. I have so many questions about the Eva/Cindy relationship that remain unanswered…but perhaps it’s better that way.

Creativity is sacred, and it is not sacred. What we make matters enormously, and it doesn’t matter at all.

These two sentences from the very end of the book sum the whole thing up rather succinctly. That said, even if the message is simple, I really enjoyed this book. There are parts that seem repetitive, and parts that seem flighty, and parts where Gilbert comes across as a bit too self-important. Still, I found value in her message.

I am currently mired in the daily minutiae of parenting small children and toiling in my very NOT artistic engineering job. I constantly struggle with wishing that I could do more with my other interests — quilting, graphic design, blogging. And yet rationally I know that stressing about my lack of “creative productivity,” if you will, seems ridiculous.

So this book, and its repeated theme that creatives need to work hard but also need stop taking themselves so seriously, was the right thing for me to read at this point in my life. It gave me a shot of confidence in simply following my interests, making time for them when I can, and trusting that if now is not the right time, maybe someday it will be…and that if that time never comes at all, well, so be it. Life goes on, and goes on happily.

This was a quick read, somewhat useful but sometimes preachy. I feel like I was already aware of most of the tips in this book, and there wasn’t anything really new here — just the same types of tips you can find anywhere, repackaged.

I had a difficult time getting into this book at first. I was confused about what was happening with Clare and bored by what was happening with Cornelia. But once their lives intersected, the story took a sharp turn for the better and I was hooked. I had no idea how the story would turn out and while it did feel like things were wrapped up a bit quickly — and a bit too cleanly — I enjoyed the process of getting there.

I feel sort of bad giving this book only 2 stars, because I think Aziz Ansari seems fun and hilarious. I thought this was going to be a comedy book, and there are certainly funny bits and jokes thrown in, but overall it’s actually a pretty serious look at dating and romance in the era of smartphones and online dating. I found it interesting — although perhaps it would have been even more so if I weren’t happily married with kids. But it didn’t really hold my attention very well, and by the end I felt like I was reading just so I could say I finished it.

Hello!

I'm Sarah, a NASA engineer by day and quilter by night. I live in Houston with my husband and our two young daughters. I've had this ol' blog for more than 15 years, and these days it's home to my quilting work, snippets of family life, and occasional musings on my engineering career.